Ugh, NARS. Why do they give their products such names? 🤦🏼♀️
THE BACKSTORY: NARS updated their iconic powder blush formula a couple of years ago. I feel like the word “iconic” is blithely overused in this day and age but these powder blushes definitely are worthy of the tag. Any seasoned beauty lover definitely has had a tryst with their infamous powder blush, ‘Orgasm’, pun not intended. ‘Orgasm’ is not only notorious for its name (something that NARS as a brand frequently employs) but also for its shimmery golden peachy colour.
THE PRODUCT: All NARS powder blushes, from the regular line-up, come packaged in these black, soft-touch, heavy plastic compacts. They have a large mirror inside and the compacts snap shut, which I always appreciate. The product pan is magnetic and there’s a tiny hole on the bottom of the compact. You can push out the pan with a pencil/pin and put it in a larger travel palette, if you so desire.
The blush itself is quite stiff and there’s not much product kick-up when you swirl you brush in the pan. It’s quite sheer and isn’t as pigmented as most powder blushes in the market these days. But I like how that immediately makes it more forgiving. You can layer the blush and build up its opacity as opposed to having a punch of colour from the get-go. Even if you have built up a lot of product on your cheeks, it’s easy to blend out seamlessly.
I tend to leave it as a sheer wash of colour by only doing a couple of layers. I also typically use this as a final blush on top of others. Whether I’m trying to cool down a warmer blush or set a cream/liquid blush, I like relying on this blush as a final “sealant” for whatever my cheek routine of the day is.
Despite its initial stiffness, the product melds onto your skin and adheres to it rather well. It’s not patchy or splotchy. It’s long-wearing on its own, especially in temperature-controlled environments. If you’re out and about, a Setting Spray helps make it last longer.
The finish the blush leaves behind is quite radiant, despite being matte in the pan. Upon closer inspection, I attribute that to the fine silver shimmer pearls scattered throughout the blush. It doesn’t really catch your eye in the pan but it translates to a glowy finish on the skin.
I was mistaken when I thought the shade I’m talking about today, ‘Sex Fantasy’, was a newer addition. I found a Temptalia post dating back to 2014, so, yeah, I was very wrong in thinking so. It was a Limited Edition release back then but I think it’s a more permanent addition now. There’s nothing to suggest otherwise.
NARS Powder Blush in ‘Sex Fantasy’ swatched once (top) and swatched thrice (bottom).
NARS Powder Blush in ‘Sex Fantasy’ blended out.
SWATCHES AND SHADES AVAILABLE: There are currently 35 shades in the permanent line-up.
- ‘905 Sex Fantasy’ – a cool-toned pale baby pink. Has micro silver shimmer, borderline undetectable.
PRICE: $36 (retails for 3500 INR locally)
QUANTITY: 4.8 grams
AVAILABILITY: Sephora, NARS, Nykaa, Tira etc.
♥ OVERALL: While I like the formula and the shade itself, I think there’s similar (or even better products) at a more affordable price-point. If you do have a shade that’s caught your eye (like this one caught mine), make sure to grab it during a sale.
NARS Powder Blush in "905 Sex Fantasy".
$36
Pros
- Long-wearing.
- Blend-able and build-able formula.
- Radiant, skin-like finish.
- Good on its own, good as a topper.
Cons
- EXPENSIVE.
- Availability is an issue.
